Delegación del Gobierno en Castilla-La Mancha condenns latest gender-based murder in Madrid

The Delegación del Gobierno de España in Castilla-La Mancha has expressed its condemnation of the latest confirmed gender-based murder in the province of Madrid. Since official data collection began in 2003, 1,384 women have been killed due to gender violence. Additionally, since 2013, 68 children have been murdered as a result of violence against their mothers, leaving 542 children orphaned.

The victim, Gloria Esperanza, aged 52, was allegedly killed by her partner on 20 October. She did not leave behind any minor children, and there were no previous reports against the alleged aggressor.

Government response

At a recent event, the Government Delegate highlighted that “the Viogen system is functioning,” noting that there are currently over 5,900 women registered within it. He pointed out that in this case, “there were no prior reports” and urged the public to ensure that “no abuse, no indication goes unreported.” He encouraged families and neighbours to report any signs of mistreatment.

The delegate reiterated that “there cannot be any case that goes unattended” and called for societal collaboration in the fight against gender violence to “defend the equality and dignity of women.”

Institutional declaration

In accordance with the protocol established by the Ministry of Equality and the Ministry of Territorial Policy following a gender-based murder, an institutional declaration has been released. It emphasises that as a democratic society, “we cannot tolerate any form of violence against women simply for being women.” Gender-based violence is described as “structural violence, rooted in sexist discrimination, inequality, and power imbalances between women and men.”

The declaration reaffirms the commitment of institutions against denialist views of gender violence and calls on all administrations and society as a whole to maintain a united and firm stance in this fight, striving for a more just, equal, and violence-free society for women.

Support resources

The Ministry of Equality, through the Delegación del Gobierno against Gender Violence, reminds the public that the helpline 016, online consultations via email at 016-online@igualdad.gob.es, a WhatsApp channel at 600 000 016, and an online chat available on the website violenciagenero.igualdad.gob.es are operational 24/7. The 016 helpline offers advice on available resources and victims' rights regarding all forms of violence against women, as well as legal advice from 8:00 to 22:00 daily, with support in 53 languages and services adapted for potential disabilities.

In emergencies, individuals can call 112 or the national police at 091 and the Civil Guard at 062. If making a call is not possible, the ALERTCOPS app can be used to send an alert with geolocation to the security forces. These resources can be activated by victims or anyone who knows or suspects a case of gender violence, as eradicating this violence is a collective responsibility.